You know what happened - or as much as possible of it. I may be misreading but I'm not sure I understand how the others deemed you had been the one mainly at fault. Perhaps at least one or two of the colleagues are worried the other colleague had precipitated an ill spell in you? Perhaps they have been on the receiving end of that kind of behaviour as well?

I thought it best to remain open minded when I don't have definite evidence of people's attitudes. Guesswork is great in helping us be cautious but not arriving at definite conclusions. On the other hand however, I often find guesswork allays my fears and reassures me.

But it is natural to feel self-conscious at such questions. This again is in fact a positive thing leading to caution.

As for me, it took me 30 years at work to cotton onto all this.

As I say I have no wish to contradict you & I'm sure you have more to go on than I am reading into the story.

My favourite reply on solicitous enquiries became eventually, "Not bad thank you" delivered in a fairly though not exaggeratedly enthusiastic tone and accompanied by a smile and small nod. That was just me though.

Very occasionally but not often, with the addition of a mention of some slight condition (I had several physical ones) but so as to indicate it wasn't deterring me rather than that I needed excess sympathy.

When I was working I didn't recognise I had bipolar so I can't parallel your situation exactly. One colleague from HR did write about my mood swings but it's only of late that I've discussed them with my GP and got triple-purpose medicine.